Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express

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A Heartfelt Goodbye

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For almost two decades, I have been deeply involved in town government including 12 years serving as a selectman and 15 years as chair of the Community Preservation Committee. As the sale of my home at Just Right Farm is imminent, I write today to let you know that effective Friday, Sept. 26, I am resigning from the Plympton Board of Selectmen, Plympton Community Preservation Committee and Area 58 Board of Directors.
It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the unique little town of Plympton. Throughout, I have tried as much as possible to encourage and foster civility and transparency in town government, and especially to encourage the preserving of Plympton’s charm and unique rural character…all this while remaining ever cognizant of the substantial tax burden our citizens must bear. It is a challenging and endless battle to keep our tax rate under control while still delivering essential services.
Of the many projects in which I have been involved, I particularly savored the opportunity during my tenure to be part of the creation of three protected areas (Churchill Park/Cato’s Ridge, Two Brooks Preserve and Turkey Swamp). Each of these projects exemplifies what can be accomplished with creative, collaborative multi-sourced funding which minimized cost to taxpayers. Each, though arduous, was a fascinating and thoroughly rewarding exercise. The end result was several hundred acres preserved in perpetuity at very modest cost.
I am deeply appreciative of the chance to serve and am so very thankful for the opportunity to be purposeful. Even with the occasional bumps and inevitable bruises that are an integral part of town politics, it has been rewarding beyond measure.
While no longer living here, Kim and I will not be so far away and we will surely be rooting from the sidelines. I heartily encourage others to get involved, continue the work and make a difference even if it means stretching a little (or a lot). Don’t miss the opportunity!

Heartfelt thanks,
Mark Russo

Shawn Elyse Trice

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Shawn Trice is an artist and educator who has been teaching fine arts, sculpture and pottery at Foxborough High School for over a decade. She studied at the Delaware College of Art and Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she earned both her BFA and Master of Arts in Teaching.
Specializing in mixed media, Shawn explores blending medium, technique, and personal expression in ways that feel both traditional and experimental. Her work often draws upon themes of memory and connection, and the ways in which art can bridge personal expression and experience. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creative problem solving, personal exploration, and the development of each student’s unique artistic voice.
Since moving with her family to Plympton in October 2020, Shawn quickly found herself inspired by our little town’s character and natural beauty. Shawn is currently preparing new Plympton-inspired paintings for an upcoming silent auction at the Plympton Library (Date, TBD). Shawn looks forward to sharing her work with the community, hoping it opens space to appreciate the familiar buildings and landscapes we have come to know and love.

Halifax Approves Paramedic-Only Position at Fire Department

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The Halifax Fire Department received approval from the Board of Selectmen to create a paramedic-only position as the department grapples with severe staffing shortages that are impacting emergency response capabilities.
Fire Chief Michael Witham presented multiple solutions to address recruitment and retention challenges during the meeting, explaining that the department has lost 12 people in the past three years. The new paramedic-only position would pay between $26 and $30 per hour at the chief’s discretion, representing a $4 hourly increase from current paramedic pay.
“For the last few years when we just sponsored people, we don’t have the funding to pay them. So now I’m going to ask somebody to give up six months of their life and 240 hours of training or more, 270 hours with everything for $0. There’s not a lot of people interested in doing it,” the Chief said.
The paramedic-only employees would be limited to ambulance operations and cannot respond to fires since they lack Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. They cannot operate pumps, enter burning buildings, or use self-contained breathing apparatus.
“The only function that they would have would be to drive the ambulance, work in the back of the ambulance, and then obviously come back and do the chores around the station,” Witham explained.
The department currently operates with three-person crews, but the chief acknowledged this creates challenges when the paramedic-only position is filled, leaving only two certified firefighters available for fire calls.
The Chief also proposed hiring paramedics and sending them to the fire academy, which would cost approximately $10,000 per person including wages during the 10-week training period and overtime costs to cover their shifts. To prevent new hires from leaving immediately after training, the department would require a two-year contract with financial penalties for early departure.
“The last two that I hired, within 24 hours they went to another department,” the chief said, highlighting the competitive nature of the current job market.
Sign-on bonuses represent another recruitment tool under consideration. Witham suggested offering $5,000 bonuses split between graduation from the academy and completion of the probationary period.
The staffing shortage has significant operational impacts. The department’s recall success rate sits at just 12 percent, forcing reliance on mutual aid from neighboring communities. Last year, Halifax had 90 mutual aid runs, representing approximately $234,000 in lost billing revenue.
“Every time that ambulance goes out with another community, we’re losing $2,600,” he explained.
The department has seen a 200-run increase compared to last year, with projections for an additional 400 to 500 runs annually due to the new walk-in clinic and planned community center development.
“That walk-in clinic, we went there three times the other day,” the Chief said, noting that most patients requiring transport include those with allergic reactions, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cardiac rhythm abnormalities.
Current staffing levels mean that when one ambulance transports a patient, only one crew member remains at the station. Transport calls typically take two hours, including evaluation, transport, and potential hospital wait times.
“By the time you get to someone’s house, evaluate, make the decision to transport, go to the hospital. If you have to get medications, sometimes you’re at the hospital 45 minutes waiting for a bed because it’s so busy,” Witham said.
The chief’s goal involves staffing four members per shift, which would allow operation of both a second ambulance and a fire truck simultaneously during emergencies.
Board Chair Jonathan Selig expressed support while acknowledging financial constraints. “I do think it’s going to take some creativity to try to figure this out, because in addition to your issue, we’re also facing a tough financial year coming up,” Selig said.
The chief assured the board that he would absorb costs within his existing budget until funds are exhausted, emphasizing that hiring the paramedic-only position at the higher rate remains more cost-effective than paying overtime at $60 per hour.
“I can absorb some of it for right now to take the burden off of what’s going on? Yes. But like I said to you, I might pay a little bit of money this way, but if I don’t and there’s nobody there, I’m paying time and a half at $60 an hour,” the Chief said.
The board unanimously approved creating the paramedic-only position with compensation up to $30 per hour at the chief’s discretion. The position will be developed with a formal job description and brought back for final salary determination.
Selig emphasized the importance of competitive compensation. “We have to, as a town, be somewhat competitive, right? I mean, to your point, we’ve had so many positions just open because we can’t attract people because we offer so low.”
The department’s challenges reflect broader regional trends, with surrounding communities like Carver paying paramedics between $29 and $35 per hour, and Plympton offering rates in the $30s depending on experience.
The Chief will work with the Finance Committee liaison to finalize position details and compensation structure before implementation.

Home is Where Your Horse Is

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Anyone who moves to Plympton hears it -the inevitable joke that there are more horses than people living there. Anyone who drives through a street or two will see enough evidence to think that may be true. Perhaps there is no town better equipped to house so many horses because in addition to being home to an impressive equestrian population, Plympton is also home to the renowned South Shore Equine Clinic and Diagnostic Center.
Founded in 2006 and run by Dr. Mark T. Reilly, D.V.M, Diplomate ABVP (Equine) and a team of six talented veterinary doctors, including his wife Dr. Linda J. Cimetti, South Shore Equine Clinic is a hub for the horse owning and loving community in Plympton and far beyond. As a young boy growing up in Abington, Reilly was exposed to horses through his father. “My father owned race horses,” Reilly says, “but he never touched them. He was just a huge fan of the sport. I rode at Briggs and rode a bit as a kid, but growing up I never had a horse of my own.” That is certainly not the case anymore as not only does Reilly have his own horse, Luche, who is referred to as the “babysitter” of the clinic, but Reilly is surrounded by horses every day and often nights, too.
Reilly worked at the horse racing tracks in his youth as a groom and later as a veterinary assistant. He states, “Horses just came easy to me.” A growing passion for working with animals took him to the University of New Hampshire where Reilly earned a B.S. in Animal Science. He then attended Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 1991. Upon graduation, Dr. Reilly set off to work on the East coast horse racing circuit with Dr. Richard Kester. He divided his time between working on the East coast and spending winters in southern Florida before moving to work at Delaware Park with racing thoroughbreds and racing Arabian horses. Reilly then settled on Cape Cod where he established a large animal ambulatory practice in 1995 that serviced both Cape Cod and the Islands and then spread northward to the South Shore. In 1997, Reilly combined his equine practice with a small animal practice, forming Mid-Cape Animal Hospital.
With the combined veterinary establishment, it became apparent that Reilly needed to expand in order to tend to his growing patients and this would require a lot of space and land. While seeing to some horses in Plympton one day, Reilly was explaining his plight to the horse owner who jumped in and said, “I know a place!” That place was the current location on Palmer Road. “We pulled up and it was a shell of a house in major disrepair and the ‘For Sale’ sign was hanging off the hinges,” Reilly recalls. Still, the outbuildings and land offered the perfect site that Reilly envisioned for an equine hospital and the land was purchased. The main house was unsalvageable and too close to the road so it was torn down, but construction began in 2005 and by 2006 South Shore Equine Clinic and Diagnostic Center opened to the public.
Now seeing approximately 1,500 horses a year, South Shore Equine Clinic and Diagnostic Center has become one of the most revered medical and diagnostic centers for the equestrian community not only on the South Shore but in the country. What started as a run-down but brimming with possibility farm is now a 7,000 square foot facility, with two six-stall barns, two ICU stalls, exercise areas, four different lameness surfaces for evaluation, an indoor trotting aisle, sand and grass paddocks, open field, standing MRI room, a laboratory and diagnostics center, a surgical suite, two induction and recovery rooms, and an outpatient area. With state of the art technology and services offered that can’t be found anywhere else in the area, Reilly has made South Shore Equine Clinic an invaluable part of the community.
Stepping inside the welcoming reception area it is easy to see that order and cleanliness are standard as is the love of all things horse with pictures and décor of the equestrian nature covering the walls. Beyond the reception area is a trotting hall -a nine-foot wide, long hallway that not only allows the horses to move about the hospital but to also be observed by the team to evaluate their range of motion -especially in bad weather. The floor of the trotting area is a deep shade of red. “The floor is red because when, say, black surfaces are wet from snow or rain, the horses think it’s a body of water or a puddle and they will try to jump over it. The red doesn’t look like anything to the horses so they can move about without feeling like they need to jump when they are possibly injured,” Reilly explains.
Leading from the trotting hall is an induction room that is padded and equipped with a rope system to gently lower sedated horses to a resting position and be hoisted up into the adjacent surgery suite. The surgical suite offers the latest and most advanced veterinary technology such as a carbon dioxide laser, and is equipped to house 4-5 medical staff as well as manage almost any type of elective surgery such as castrations, tumor removals, orthopedic procedures, arthroscopy, and soft tissue procedures. Surgeries are available for viewing via a “birds eye view” television if the horse owners wish to watch the procedures. The procedures are often recorded and made available as instructional resources for veterinary students.
Another service that sets South Shore Equine Clinic apart from other veterinary centers is the open field, standing MRI facility. It is one of only eighteen open field units in the country. The open field design allows horses to stand in a semi-sedated but weight bearing stance to image all the areas needing evaluation on the horse. This way of conducting an MRI reduces risks to the patient as well as expense to the owner. Additionally, this technology allows highly detailed imaging. Reilly explains, “I can do 330 images in an hour and a half of 3mm slices of a six-inch area, so it’s just like human medicine -you can see everything. It has revolutionized especially how we deal with lower limb lameness.” Reilly also explains that because the imaging is digital now images can be manipulated to show layers and angles and can be emailed to anyone on the care team for the horse.
Maintaining this cutting-edge technology is hardly carefree, however. “The MRI room has its own HVAC and has to be maintained at 66 degrees -give or take a few degrees. The bigger the magnet the more important the stability temperature,” Reilly points out, “So if something is off -the humidity or temperature, an orange light goes off and notifies our on-call HVAC company and they have to come out and fix it right away. There are days I come in and they are already here adjusting things. They can also tap into the program and adjust things remotely sometimes.”
Further exploration of the large, well-maintained facility leads to an evaluation area with comfort ICU stalls that have 24-hour monitoring, a stock to examine horses, and easy access from the outdoor unloading and evaluation areas where owners drop off the horses. When it comes to comfort for his patients met with logic and efficiency for the staff, nothing is overlooked by Reilly. “We have padded floors in the comfort stalls with just the right level of softness to keep it safe for the horses but also soft enough that we don’t have to put down four bags of shavings every time that have to be changed multiple times and between patients. With these floors we only need a half a bag of shavings.” Reilly goes on to explain, “If the horse is on IV fluids, we have the IV bags up in the ceiling and the lines are fed from there to the horse. That way we don’t have lines getting stepped on or tagled and the fluids can be managed from above the stall so as not to disturb the horse. So it is much more efficient in terms of less mess and also the horses can rest.”
Outside South Shore Equine Clinic, the attention to detail carries through to various lameness surfaces in the unloading area. Here, Reilly often asks the owner to demonstrate the issue by riding the horse if possible and observing the horses movement and reactions on five different surfaces which help Reilly evaluate lameness or other possible issues. Across from the unloading and evaluation are four different size grass paddocks, one small sand turnout, a riding ring, a lunge area, and a deep sand round pen. Housed off to the side of those areas is a large barn with three of the six stalls equipped for IV fluids and 24-hour monitoring. There is also an isolation stall for horses exhibiting things like a fever or other symptoms of being contagious. “Usually, we try to keep horses with fevers at their own barns to control exposure, but if we have to keep them here this is where they will be treated,” says Reilly.
South Shore Equine Clinic is not only a standing facility, it is a mobile practice as well. With a fleet of mobile veterinary trucks equipped with drugs, ultrasound machines, endoscopes, and various medical materials and instruments tailored to each veterinarian’s preference or specialty services, South Shore Equine services can often be on site in the horses familiar surroundings. “On any given day there are at least three of our vet trucks on the road,” Reilly says.
Overseeing the whole operation is Reilly’s beloved horse, Luche, who lives at the clinic. Luche came to South Shore Equine Clinic as a two-year-old lame racing horse. The owner at that time was immediately uninterested in the horse once they found out treatment was needed. “The owner said ‘Well I don’t want him anymore,’ and I said, ‘Well I do!’” Reilly then performed surgery, after treatment, and rehabilitation to bring Luche back to full form and he made himself at home. Referred to by Reilly as the “babysitter” of the barn Luche is eager to welcome and interact with any patient or human who happens to be nearby.
Perhaps one of the most consuming endeavors available at South Shore Equine Clinic is the practice of foaling. A serene and well-equipped foaling barn allows Reilly and his team to safely and successfully foal out 18-20 foals a year. Reilly also says he performs artificial insemination for breeding on about 20-25 mares each year. The mares are monitored throughout the eleven-month gestation period and close to the expected time of delivery they are brought to the barn and kept comfortable and monitored. Once the foal is born there are 24-hour surveillance cameras with infrared camera for night vision observation without disturbing the protective mares and their foals.
Due to foaling, the busiest time at South Shore Equine clinic is in the spring. “Horses give birth in the spring months because mares instinctively don’t want their babies to be leaving and weaning in the middle of winter. They instinctively want to mate between February to June and give birth around that time a year later.” Reilly explains that the clinic foaling barn is run rather like a hotel reservation service and mares are booked to come in around the time of delivery -which means a full house -or barn, rather, for a few months each year. “This year we had eight mares ready to drop their foals all at once because some of them were kind of holding on and not delivering…that’s a little intimidating,” jokes Reilly, “It was like hot potato deciding who was going to be on call each night for that because we knew they would all go close together.”
With so many services and comforts available at South Shore Equine Clinic, Reilly has also managed to provide a fully functional and valuable laboratory on site. The full in-house laboratory is located in a former outbuilding that was converted. “It was our Covid project,” Reilly jests. In the past, when blood tests were ordered and cultures needed, it was all sent out for testing. The on-site lab now allows immediate blood test results as well as culture evaluations and other test results to be determined much quicker and at less of a cost. Reilly demonstrates, “It used to take about five days to get, say, a culture back. Now, I know in 18 hours what antibiotic to use. In 36 hours I can call a test negative. It means better treatment for the horse and less expense to the owner in making sure the right thing is done right away. Especially with regard to antibiotic resistance its important to be accurate.”
It is not all about horses, however, at South Shore Equine Clinic. Reilly understands that a horse is best cared for when the owners are educated and equipped to handle the huge responsibility of owning a horse. During the winter months, usually on Mondays, Reilly and his staff hold gatherings, lectures, and classes for the community on horse care. “We hold presentations on things like common maladies, hot topic issues -we survey our customers to see what they want to learn about. Sometimes there are sponsors for these events and door prizes and discounts are offered depending on the topic,” Reilly says. These presentations also offer the chance for people to ask questions in a non-stressful setting. Reilly points out, “When people are here with a problem they often aren’t thinking clearly. When they come to these classes they can ask better questions in a non-emergency event.”
Reilly also explains that this is his approach with passing on after care instructions to horse owners upon discharge of their animal. “The biggest cause for post treatment failure is non compliance with discharge orders,” Reilly says, “We make sure all the discharge information is clearly and thoroughly presented in the discharge area before they exit to the waiting room where the bill awaits them so they can focus on how to keep their horse from needing more treatment from failure to provide proper aftercare.”
Amidst all the complexities and hard work to run a state of the art center like South Shore Equine Clinic, the foremost mission of all who work there is the love of horses and the desire to care for them and give them the highest quality of life possible, and to provide owners and surrounding veterinary centers the ability and opportunities to do that. “We are here to give the best treatment and comfort we can to horses and to give the owners peace of mind,” Reilly assures, “We make sure each horse has treatment tailored specifically to them. You could have two horses with identical issues or illnesses and the treatments for both could be entirely different because we base it on what each horse needs.”
When asked about the demeanor of horses under duress or feeling ill Reilly says, “Horses are honest. Dogs and cats? Not so much. Dogs want you to think everything is fine even if their limb is falling off and cats mask symptoms, too -but horses give you instant feedback. Horses also respond to the tone and behavior of the owner, so if the owner is causing the horse anxiety we also help to calm the owner. A calm horse is a safer horse.” The staff at South Shore Equine Clinic share Reilly’s goals to make what could be a difficult experience as stress free and assuring as possible. “Not all of our staff ride or own horses,” Reilly points out, “But everyone here has a true love for them. Owning a horse is a passion, you have to want that responsibility and love it.”
When asked what Reilly would like the community to know about South Shore Equine Clinic he responds, “We are a partner in the care of your horse. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year. We want the best outcome for everyone and we work hard, around the clock to provide that for every patient and human that comes through the door.” After witnessing the nearly incomprehensible amount of work and dedication from Reilly and his staff in just one afternoon their love for horses is undeniable. Reilly and all at South Shore Equine Clinic have built more than a prestigious, well-outfitted medical practice, they have built a thoughtful, peaceful, healing center for horses to get them back home in the best condition and as soon as possible, because anyone who truly loves horses knows that home is where your horse is.

OCES to Honor Caregivers During National Caregivers Month Nominate a Caregiver!

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During National Caregivers Month, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, will celebrate dedicated caregivers who make a positive impact in others’ lives.
The number of caregivers in the U.S. has risen significantly. According to data from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP’s Caregiving in the US 2025, the number of family caregivers has grown to 63 million – or one in four – American adults.
OCES is honoring the selfless dedication of caregivers who make a real difference in the lives of others and is inviting individuals and companies to nominate a family member, friend, or associate who has gone above and beyond to care for someone in the community.
From now through October 6, 2025, OCES is accepting nominations of local caregivers (within OCES’ service area) to be highlighted during National Caregivers Month in November.
“We look forward to celebrating our community’s caregivers, sharing their stories and honoring their commitment to caregiving during National Family Caregivers Month,” said Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW, and CEO of OCES.
Throughout November, OCES will spotlight each nominated caregiver, sharing their story in a special Caregiver Edition newsletter and across our social media channels.
To nominate a caregiver, please visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/3dG5Aos/caregiver

Nominated caregivers will be notified. To view a map of OCES’ service area, visit https://ocesma.org/about-old-colony-elder-services.

Providing Support & Resources for Caregivers
OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) provides caregiver support and resources to individuals in OCES’ service area. For more information about caregiver support visit ocesma.org/programs-services/caregiver-support or call 508-584-1561.

Kingston Police Welcomes Comfort Dog, Honors Officers for Heroic Actions

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The Kingston Police Department introduced its newest four-legged member and honored several officers and civilians for their heroic actions during the August 26 Board of Selectmen meeting.
Officer Brian Hurley presented Mabel, a 5-month-old yellow Labrador who recently completed comfort dog training through Professional Canine Services in Middleborough. The puppy, born on April Fool’s Day, comes from Pacheco Kennels in Raynham and is related to comfort dogs serving in neighboring communities.
“She is a full yellow lab. Both of her mother and father were yellow labs, Aries and Apollo,” Hurley said. “She’s actually sisters with Pembroke’s comfort dog, Sasha. One of Plymouth’s comfort dogs and as well as Plympton’s comfort dog, Aggie.”
Mabel accompanies Hurley at all times, both at home and on patrol. The department encourages community members to request the comfort dog for events and welcomes residents to interact with Mabel when they encounter the pair around town.
“If you have any events that you think that you may need a comfort dog for it, please feel free to request,” Hurley said. “And if you see me driving around, then feel free to say hello. And you can take pictures with the dog, pet the dog. She loves people and she’s been doing really well.”
As a NASRO-certified officer with the National Association of School Resource Officers, Hurley serves as backup to the district’s school resource officers, allowing him flexibility to visit any school when requested or during routine patrol stops.
Chief Brian Holmes presented multiple Police Commendation Awards recognizing exceptional service during two separate emergency incidents.
On July 30, Officer Potrykus, Lieutenant Skowyra, Dispatcher Odell, and Officer Hurley received recognition for their actions during a high-speed pursuit involving stolen property. The incident began when a resident reported someone attempting to steal a jet ski and trailer from their yard.
“Officer Potrykus observed a truck with the lights off that he turned around and followed the vehicle. A pursuit ensued, which went all the way down Route 3 into the rotary, and then it continued down Route 25, and it ended up terminating in New Bedford,” Chief Holmes said.
The pursuit resulted in one suspect’s apprehension, though a piece of debris from the fleeing vehicle struck the police cruiser’s windshield during the chase.
“Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the department, and maintain the highest traditions of law enforcement,” Holmes read from the commendation. “Congratulations on a job well done.”
The department also recognized two civilians for their life-saving actions during a water rescue on July 21. Harbormaster Tom Taylor and Assistant Harbormaster Glen Cavicchi received commendations for rescuing a distressed kayaker in the Jones River, though neither was available to attend the meeting.
The incident occurred when a kayaker became tangled in fishing line and overturned near Jones River Drive. Resident Tom Conner assisted the person in the water until the harbormaster’s boat arrived on scene.
“Mr. Conner was able to reach the person and help him stay afloat above the water until the rescue arrived on scene,” the Chief explained. “Your actions reflect great credit upon yourself, the department to maintain the high traditions of the law enforcement, and quite possibly save a life that day.”
Holmes also presented the department’s new mission statement and core values, developed through input from all department members. The mission statement emphasizes the department’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, service, and community partnership.
“The Kingston Police Department, guided by integrity, professionalism, service, and a deep commitment to the community, partners with the public to serve, support, and protect all inhabitants of the town of Kingston,” the mission statement reads.
The department’s four core values include integrity, defined as being “open and transparent in all things that we do”; community, recognizing that “we are the public and we cannot do this job without you”; professionalism, acknowledging that “policing is a profession” requiring education and training; and service, emphasizing their role as “law enforcement officers, dispatchers, administrators, leaders, and public servants.”
The board also accepted a donation from Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, including a life pack 1008ED, wall mounting case, and two NALOX boxes containing Narcan. These items will be provided to the recreation department.
In other business, the board began preparations for hiring a new Town Administrator following Keith Hickey’s upcoming departure. The board approved a position statement and job description for the role, with an annual salary of $180,000 plus or minus depending on qualifications.
The board established a screening committee consisting of two selectmen, the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and HR Manager to review applications. Chairman Eric Crone and board member Donald Alcombright will represent the selectmen on the committee.
The Town Administrator position requires a bachelor’s degree with a master’s preferred, along with experience in municipal government, financial management, and personnel administration. The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong leadership qualities and knowledge of municipal law.

Kingston Agricultural Commission to host Fall Fair

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KINGSTON, MA, ISSUED SEPTEMBER 4, 2025…Come one, come all! Members of the Kingston Agricultural Commission are looking to build upon 2024’s successful Agricultural Fair, and what better way to do that than to host another one! The 2025 Kingston Agricultural Fair will take place on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Kingston Town Hall, 26 Evergreen Street.
Admission to the event is free. Come and see what the fair has to offer including 4H members with their animals, local farmers and their animals, informational tables, the chance to see antique equipment, wooden items from locally harvested trees, alpaca products, fresh vegetables and representation from a number of Kingston Town Departments. There will be a variety of food trucks on site. There will be a drawing for a special prize as well, for a handmade braided rug by Sandy O’Fihelly. For the children there will be a clown and facepainting.
In addition, the Silver Lake Regional High School students are presenting a “Cow Plop” fundraiser which will be held during the fair. Grid tickets for the Town Hall land will be available for $20 through the school, and on the day of the fair. If a cow “goes plop” on a certain grid, the winning prizes includes a JBL speaker, $100 worth of gift cards, or $500 in cash. Monies raised will help with the cost of the senior picnic, senior dinner dance, senior prom and a class gift. The cows are provided courtesy of the 4H Club.
“2024 was a huge success and we’re hoping for another great turnout,” said Debra Mueller, the Town’s Animal Inspector. “It’s a great chance to see firsthand the importance of agriculture in our lives, and to have some fun at the same time.”
Admission is free. For additional information, please contact Agricultural Commissioner Jean Landis-Nauman, jln12@comcast.net or (339) 832-0782.

Fourth Annual Plympton Flower Show: A Bright Spot on a Rainy Day

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Stephani Teran
Express staff
The Fourth Annual Plympton Flower Show took place on Sunday, Sept. 7 on the Plympton Town Green. It was a wonderful day -even with the much needed rain, and many gardeners, green thumbs, and floral lovers showed up with stunning entries! From show-stopping specimen Dahlias to carefully crafted terrariums complete with tiny figurines and scenes made entirely of woodland materials, the Plympton Flower Show was full to the brim with beautiful creations made by contestants from surrounding towns.
In addition to floral, produce, and craft entries on display, Plympton Old Time Jams provided the perfect music for the afternoon, Just the Dip food truck kept everyone fed with delicious food, and Detterman Farm offered stunning flowers and floral creations for sale -all made with harvests grown just down the street on their magical farm. A special thanks to our three judges and experts in their fields, George Stanchfield, Jane Schulze, and Mike Jardin for offering their time, consideration, and wisdom to the show. We are also grateful to Mike Slawson of the Plympton Public Library for hosting the dried floral art workshop for our younger contestants to work on their entries. In addition, we are immensely grateful for our fellow Plympton Garden Club members and family and friends who show up every year and work hard to make sure the event runs smoothly.
I would also like to personally thank Gabby Falconieri and her husband, Tim. Gabby has been the driving force behind this flower show the last four years and it would not be what it is today without her freely offered time, efforts, ideas, guidance, and support. Lastly, we would like to thank all of our contestants for entering and for taking the time to nurture things all growing season long and then arrange and showcase them for the community at our show. We truly could not have a show without you! Until next year, best wishes for the last weeks of the growing season and we look forward to starting things up again in the spring!
Congratulations to the winners for the 2025 Plympton Flower Show!

WINNERS 2025

Single Variety Arrangement
1st: Meg McSweeney Martin
2nd: Heidi Creighton
3rd: Rebecca Hudson
360 arrangement
1st:Emily Sharland
2nd: Rebecca Hudson
3rd: Rose
One Faced Arrangement
1st: Rebecca Hudson
2nd: Meaghan Weymouth
3rd: David Alberti
Natives Arrangement
1st: Brian McGinn
2nd: Rebecca Hudson
3rd: Patricia Pflaumer
Herbs Arrangement
1st: Meg McSweeney Martin
Dahlia:
Decorative Informal
1st: Rebecca Hudson
2nd: Justine Muir
3rd: Heidi Creightin
Decorative Formal
1st: Justine Muir
2nd: Meaghan Weymouth
3rd: Gabby Falconieri
Dinner Plates
1st: Justine Muir
2nd: Kelly Macdonald Weeks
3rd: Heidi Creighton
PomPom:
1st: Gabby Falconieri
Cactus
1st: Ed McSweeney
2nd: Meaghan Weymouth
3rd: Justine Muir
Ball
1st: Meaghan Weymouth
2nd: Kelly Macdonald Weeks
3rd: Becky Hane
Zinnia
1st: Holly Swain
2nd: Adriana Lafave
3rd: Gina Richmond
Rose
1st: Leslie Gomes
2nd: Holly Swain
Sunflowers
1st: Kelly McDonald Weeks
2nd: Dave Alberti
3rd: Vicki Alberti
Cosmo
1st: Little Rivers Flower Farm
2nd: Leslie Gomes
Natives
1st: Meg McSweeney Martin
2nd: Vicki Alberti
Produce:
Garlic
1st: Dave Alberti
2nd: Ed McSweeney
Pepper
1st: Heather Sandra
Squash
1st: Lesie Gomes
2nd: Holly Swain
Pumpkin
1st: Tracy Delpozzo
Herbs
1st: Meg Mcsweeney Martin
2nd: Leslie Gomes
3rd: Vicki Alberti
Future Gardeners:
Floral Arrangement
1st: Charlotte Weymouth
2nd: Josie Brickley
3rd: Max Noberts
Terrarium
1st: Charlotte Weymouth
2nd: Jaxson Weymouth
Sunflower
1st: Ellis Gilmore
2nd:Thad Gilmore
Gourds
1st: TJ Delpozzo
2nd: Lizzie Delpozzo
3rd: Ellis Gilmore
Pepper
1st: TJ Delpozzo
Dried Flower Art
1st: Ronan Teran
2nd: Hazel Falconieri
3rd: Alice
Best in Shows
Overwhelmingly the Judges favorites were both terrariums by
Charlotte and Jaxson Weymouth
People’s Choice:
Meg McSweeney Martin, Single Variety Arrangement

There and Back Again – A Librarians Tale

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For Mike Slawson, the day begins long before the sun rises in the east. With his faithful dog, Maddie, and a step out the door onto a quiet country road for a walk, he faces each day for the adventure it is -and each day really is an adventure when you are the Director of the Plympton Public Library. Slawson’s story began in Kingston where he grew up and frequently attended the Kingston Public Library. One particularly poignant moment in Slawson’s life, however, was not in a library but at Waldenbooks at the age of 10 when he picked up a copy of The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. After embarking on an unexpected journey with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf through Middle Earth, Slawson knew books were something special. “I loved the world building that takes place in books -particularly fantasy books. It is what really got me into reading,” Slawson recounts.
The love of reading and learning took Slawson down many paths. With a degree in history and archaeology, Slawson started a career in environmental health and safety. He then went on to being both a middle and high school teacher in history, social studies, and economics. The underlying theme throughout these varied careers was that Slawson has always been passionate about education. This devotion to education promoted a change in careers for Slawson and he began his work with libraries. Starting as a library technician for the Kingston Public Library, Slawson quickly realized that working in a library had been the path he was meant for all along. “I saw an ad for a library tech position at the Kingston Public Library and so I took a chance and found my calling,” Slawson recounts.
After a few years with the Kingston Public Library -including time as its Director, Slawson saw the position open up for Director of the Plympton Public Library. “I saw the small-town community that Plympton and the Plympton Library offered and I knew it would be the perfect fit,” he says. In fact, Plympton has been such a perfect fit that Slawson moved to town and is happily settled into the local community as a resident in addition to being the town librarian.
As the Director of the Plympton Public Library, Slawson has had the opportunity to develop programs and shape the direction of the library to not only provide educational and community offerings that Slawson enjoys, but to provide various experiences and resources tailored to the local needs and interests of its patrons. Slawson believes the library is not just a place to check out books or to study, but a place to be relied on by the community for outreach and support. “Libraries have been around for thousands of years,” Slawson explains, “And that’s because they are adaptable to the needs of the people they serve. The baseline is always the materials they provide, but they have changed over time to be mostly for protecting educational materials and study to now offering things like technology, activities, and programs for all ages and interests that enrich the community.”
When it comes to providing engaging experiences and resources for the community, Slawson is going above and beyond. One of the offerings the Plympton Public Library has that he is particularly excited about is the Library of Things -items for loaning that are not traditional library materials or books. Things such as various tools, outdoor yard games, a karaoke machine, children’s toys, a VCR with a digital converter, a bubble machine, a trail cam, night vision goggles, a telescope, and even a thermal leak detector, are all available at the Plympton Public Library to check out.
In addition to the Library of Things, the Plympton Public Library offers board games, puzzles, scheduled time with the in-house Virtual Reality Device (VR Headset), digital tablets for loan, and a 3D Printer that patrons can ask to use to print various items such as toys, vases, and even appliance repair parts. “I want to change how the public perceives the library,” Slawson explains, “I want people to realize that the library can be used to foster interests and also to help solve problems. I want everyone, especially teens, to know that we have things here that they are probably interested in and that we offer them freely. The library has more than books to check out a quiet place to study.”
Another ingenious offering Slawson has made available at the library is the Seed Library. Housed in an old library card catalog chest and beautifully painted by a library patron, the seed library is a rotating collection of free seed packets replenished by local donations and distributed among both seasoned and beginning gardeners and growers in Plympton. “A lot of people take seeds. I think people who might just be starting out take them, too as they are free and they are helping people discover and generate a new interest.” Slawson says, “I would also love to start a seed harvesting program, too -to have someone come in and teach how to harvest seeds from the things you grow for next year. We even have a lovely community garden and the gardens out front that are maintained by Alison McSweeny. You can come in and sign up to volunteer with her to weed and help keep the gardens looking great.”
Be it providing seeds to a new gardener or setting up a local teenager with a VR headset for an hour after school, Slawson knows how to keep the library relevant in these modern times. There are magical preschool story times with Miss Heather, a knitting club, monthly community meet ups with refreshments, coffee, and discussion about current town events, visiting magicians, a genealogy club where you can learn to find your family and ancestors, guest animals to see and hold, arts and crafts for kids and adults, and so much more. Slawson realizes that to keep a library thriving there need to be things that appeal to all ages of patrons. “I want kids and teens to feel welcome here -to feel like the library is worth-while to them. I would love for them to come in and tell me what they are interested in seeing here at the library. I would welcome suggestions for programs they would like to have and do here. I am happy to be very responsive to anyone’s suggestions and ideas,” Slawson assures.
As the day ends for Slawson at the Plympton Public Library, he can rest assured knowing that his efforts provided all there with a library adventure beneficial and enriching to them. Be it someone without access to a printer needing help to print a legal document, youngsters playing Dungeons and Dragons together, a busy mom looking for the next great read to crack open when the kids are in bed, or the local Girl Scouts helping to weed the garden out front, the Plympton Public Library is truly a place for everyone.
Slawson’s expression of pride is impossible to miss, “We are extra responsive to the needs of our community because we are a small library. We will give you a reason to come to the library -just come and talk to me and tell me what you would like to see here -books you want to read, programs you would like to see offered or teach…I am open to it all. I want this library to be a place where you can learn and connect and solve problems you may have through resources and networking. The library is such a special, integral place for me -I want everyone to experience that.” With the lights off and doors locked, Slawson heads back down the quiet, tree lined country roads of Plympton to greet Maddie and plan out the next days offered adventures at the Plympton Public Library.
“Now they rode away amid songs of farewell and good speed, with their hearts ready for more adventure.” J.R.R. Tolkien

Halifax School Committee Appoints Jody Goyette to Fill Vacant Seat

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The Halifax School Committee has appointed Jody Goyette, an attorney for the state, to fill a vacant position on the five-member board following interviews with two candidates during a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Aug. 25.
Goyette was selected over Lauren Marie Brouwer, a special educator and current president of the Silver Lake Regional High School PTO, in a unanimous vote by both boards. The appointment fills a vacant seat until the next Annual Town Election.
“I am interested in joining the school committee. The education, I think, of our children is very important, and therefore the Halifax Elementary School is very important,” Goyette said during her opening statement. “I am hoping to get more involved in the town.”
Goyette emphasized her legal background as a key qualification for the role. She works as a hearings officer and review examiner, conducting hearings daily.
“The skills that I would bring to the table is really listening to the different issues that there are, and the information that needs to be decided, you know, and viewed, and look at that information impartially, look to find the information, and seek the information that’s needed to make best decisions,” she said.
Brouwer, who has served as PTO president for three years and sits on the school council, brought 20 years of experience as a special educator and board-certified behavior analyst to her candidacy. She currently has a child at Halifax Elementary and recently watched her older daughter graduate from Silver Lake Regional High School.
“I feel that I have a unique perspective as far as the function of how an educational system would work, where resources could come from, but also where they’re especially needed,” Brouwer said during her presentation.
The interview process included questions about the district’s four strategic goals, budget challenges, and how candidates would handle disagreements and public pressure. Both candidates were asked why they had not run for the position during the regular May election.
Goyette explained that joining the school committee was not on her radar in May, as her oldest child was just finishing kindergarten preparation. “Once they did their whole graduation thing, the summer hit, I said, OK, I want to get involved. Where do I want to most get involved? In the school system, because this is where my kids are going to go to school,” she said.
Brouwer had originally planned to run in May but said life circumstances led her to postpone the decision. When the vacancy arose, she saw it as an opportunity to serve.
School Committee chair Lauren Laws noted the difficulty of the decision, saying both candidates had made the choice “really difficult tonight.” However, committee member Karyn Townsend highlighted the value of legal expertise for the board’s policy work.
“I feel that as an educator myself you would think that they would go hand in hand but really the role of a school committee member is so far removed from the world of making decisions about education,” Townsend said. “I think rather understanding law and policy which is really our role is a greater strength for that so I just feel that having an attorney on board here to help us with lots of policy decisions we make I think would be an advantage.”
The appointment comes at a challenging time for the district, with budget pressures and staffing needs creating ongoing concerns. During the meeting, new Principal Brian Prehna reported current enrollment at 535 students, including 81 kindergarteners, and noted several staff vacancies including positions for a school psychologist, behaviorist, school library media teacher, and two cafeteria aides.
Goyette will serve in the interim position until the next regular election in May, when the seat will be up for election. Both candidates were encouraged to consider running at that time regardless of Monday’s outcome.
The school committee also addressed several other matters during the meeting, including approval of a new three-year contract with the Halifax Teachers Association and discussion of a potential memorial for Richard Bayramshian, a recently deceased staff member.
Superintendent Jill Proulx provided updates on summer professional development programs and outlined the district’s strategic goals for the upcoming year, including strengthening community connections, implementing high expectations for all students, continuing curriculum review, and examining full regionalization possibilities.
The district continues to work with the Collins Center on a regionalization study that could potentially change how Halifax Elementary operates within the broader Silver Lake Regional School District structure. The study, which involves representatives from school communities and towns, aims to provide financial forecasting and analysis of potential costs and benefits of full regionalization.
“We anticipate that this process will take about a year to conduct the research going into it,” Proulx said, with results potentially available by next summer.
The school committee also approved a revised budget timeline aimed at presenting a votable budget to members by December rather than the traditional January timeline, allowing more time for discussion and refinement before the March deadline for submission to the town.
Goyette’s appointment takes effect immediately, and she will participate in upcoming school committee meetings as the district prepares for the new school year, which began Aug. 27.